But- I second what Clare said, you have every right to seek at least a second opinion. When the vet says her condition now is 'fine' and you think it can be better then it's time to get more input.

You clearly love your Spud and want her to have the best possible life. Toller is young and otherwise healthy, she is in a loving home and getting all the attention she could want, she is doing fine right now and that's great!

Seems like her life can be better though. Maybe some rehab (at a qualified vet) could help, maybe a brace. A wheelchair
might be an option and maybe amputation should be back on the table. Take a deep breath, maybe a deep slug of wine and chocolate, and look for another opinion(s). Find out ALL of your options and then decide on a path forward.

Karen and the Spirit Pug Girls

Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.

We can't travel that far with her. I can't travel at all, I can't even leave the village, and my partner doesn't drive...uuuuugh. Should I be phoning vets in our area or is that pointless? Do I need a specialist at this point? If I'm phoning up nearby vets, what do I need to ask for?

I'm so ***** that we didn't do amputation immediately :'( We paid £900 to these vets for basically nothing *sigh* and all of that could have gone towards amputation...I need to google some exercises that would be good for Tolly, or maybe phone up our vets and ask? They mentioned physio waaaay back, but when my partner brought it up to them the other day they just said that she was fully healed and she doesn't need that and it's just like aagh what are you talking about?!?!?

In the meantime, can I let Toller on the floor for a minute at a time? They said she was cleared for that, but to be honest I don't trust what they have said up to this point at all.

I'm so done with crying. I was just expecting so much more than this and everything's just come crashing down 🙁

inky said
I need to google some exercises that would be good for Tolly...

You'll find everything you need to know right here!

Loving Life On Three Legs
is filled with professional tips, and hundreds of direct links how-to videos and instructions for exercises, stretches, massage and more to help keep Tolly strong. Or check Jerry's Required Reading List
for lots of helpful links or search the Tripawds Featured Blogs for conditioning, exercise or rehab posts, for example. You might start with this recent article...

Awesome, thank you so much, we shall read alllll the links everyone has very kindly provided tomorrow 🙂 Also gonna phone up our vets and discuss a view things, and ring around nearby vets and have a chat with them tomorrow too. We will most likely ask x-rays to be sent to another close-by vet and have a chat, just to get a second opinion, and then try and have a big talk about where we go next.

Hello this is Dally's partner here, just wanted to post an update on whats happening. Dally has been telling me to post for ages as she's been too unwell, so this is later than it should be. Sorry.

After bouncing around vets for a while, finding several surgeries that refused to see her or would have to "ask permission" from the previous vet, we found a surgery who agreed to a second opinion and also immediately agreed to an amputation as Tolly's leg was so bad. She will be undergoing surgery tomorrow, and I am currently waiting on the vets to call me back to answer a few questions, and hopefully this is the start of a much better life for our little Spud!

We're absolutely petrified but know this is our only option and she'll be so much happier afterwards. We cannot wait. Photos of her included.

I'm so sorry you received such a run-around for a second opinion, but VERY proud of you for advocating for Tolly! You did great!

Let us know if you have any questions whatsoever. Stay strong and remember, you will set the tone of the recovery. We're cheering you, Dally and your little Spud on and sending lots of love for an uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery. Keep us posted OK?

As Jerry said, you two are powerful advocates for Tolly and she is sooooo lucky to have you as her humans!!

You are to be commended for doing everything possible for this sweet pup. And now that you know amputation is needed at this point, you are proceeding with that plan of zction. You had every reasow to believe that you wouldn't hzve to go this route based on what the professionals were telling you. We all would have done the same thing!

Amputation is ONE surgery and it's done!! Yes, recovery is not easy for about two or three weeks, especially the first several days and nights. Tolly may be s@ow getting mobile as she hasn't been able to use her legs at all much.

.
Will she be spending the night at the Clinic and is it 24 hr staffed? That's always the best scenario but not always possible.

Most dogs come home with Tramadol, Rimadyl and antibiotic and usually Gabapentin. Getti g the pain meds adjusted can be a bit tricky sometimes finding the right doses and the right timing.

She will only need to be up for potty breaks and then rest, rest, rest. Drinking and peei g are important, but she may not feel like eating much and she may nonpoop for a couple of days.

But once that bum leg is gone and she is done with recovery, you will be seeing a new dog!!

STAY CONNECTED! We are all here for you and want to help any way we can!

Sending healing energy to Dally and to Tolly!!!! 🙂 🙂 We'll look for lots of updates when you can!

Hugs to all!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

Otis - 106 pound lab/Dane mix, lost his right front leg to osteosarcoma on Febuary 9, 2016. Four rounds of carboplatin completed in April, 2016. Lung mets August 25, 2016. Said goodbye too soon on September 4, 2016. Lost his adopted sister, Tess, suddenly on October 9, 2016. likely due to hemangiosarcoma.

Thank you greatly every body, very much appreciated, and thank you for the well wishes for Dally too. Quick update--

We just phoned the vets to see how she was doing and have been told she's had the surgery (took about 60 minutes) and is doing great 🙂 Beforehand she was very happy and loved greeting everyone, she's now coming around they've given her a Medi Vest, and want to keep her overnight so will phone us before they close tonight to let us know how she's doing. Because it has 24/7 emergency care there will be staff with her overnight so she won't be on her own

Oh Dally says I need to tell you this too -- when I took her in this morning the nurse read the form and said "okay, so it's the right forelimb isn't it?" I replied "uh, no, it's the left...." !!!! She was glad they'd checked although said they'd almost definitely have noticed due to the deformity, but flipping heck!

I do have one question - what sort of exercise or activity level should we be looking for in the weeks afterwards, as I'm hearing different things.

Eg someone who's dog had the same limb removed last year said to do a very short walk a day as of 24 hours after surgery, because it prevents muscle wastage and the pain meds are strong enough to prevent too much hurting - I'm talking 5 minutes. We have a very large 42 inch crate set up for Tolly in our living room, her cat carrier will be inside, the floor will be covered with blankets, and there'll be a soft bed cushion too. Is that a good place to restrict her, or should we be doing more?

YAAAAAAAAAY!!! SURGERY IS DONE!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Tolly is seeing pink elephants and feeling nompain!!! So you teo get some rest as sometimes the first few nights can be lacking in sleep!

And when you pick Tolly up, don't make a big deal about the incision at all. Just look in his happy drugged eyes and tell him what a good boy he is!! Be strong and confident and he will be too.

The first two weeks....especially the first week.....Just out to pee and poo and back inside. Most dogs just want to lay around anyway, but some feel a bit more spunky. No jumping up and down on bed, sofa, etc. No stairs. Non slip scatter rugs for traction
if you jave hardwood floors. Will the vlankets slip??

Sounds like you have a great set up.

One of the main reasons keeping them from doing much walking in the beginning, even if they feelmlike it.....it is soooooo easy for them to overdo and strain or tweak a muscle. A lotnof times neck muscles and back muscles get sore very easily as they adjust to a new way of walking.

There are lots of tips on here abput core strength exercises to help make strong muscles.

Aonueah, take it really slowly, especially at first. I don't mean total co finement all the time. He can walk a vit in the house, or even take an extra minute or two outside when going to potty, but no "taking a walk" or having free range of the house. Make sense??

Can't wait for the homecoming!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 You and Dally are THE best pawrents for this ADORABLE pup!!! 🙂 soooo glad she can finally get past all this and start to enjoy being a dog!

Hugs to all!

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

Yay surgery is over and it went well! Remember she's been limited in her mobility so she'll need to build some strength in her remaining legs. Slow and steady will win this race. Being such a tiny pup will help for sure. Keep us posted we're all cheering for her!

She's been home about 6 hours and omb she was so happy to see us!! We had a cuddle session, then she went into her cat carrier for a nap, and we let her out this evening to go to the loo and have a quick cuddle and chew of toys. You can tell she's doing much better in herself because she actually wanted to chew her buffalo horn and play with toys, something she hasn't done the entire time before the amputation!

Here's a video of her going to the loo before - she's so skilled on three legs already haha!

I'll keep you all updated on how she's getting on, and thanks again for the help 🙂

Wow just Wow! She is doing so well mobility wise already. She's amazing! She looks so happy to be rid of that bum leg and the pain that went with it. Great job advocating for that sweetie and leaving no stone unturned to get her what she needs. So happy she's back home under your watchful eye. Must warm your heart to see her back to feeling better again. This update just warms my heart and makes me smile. You're such a great "doggie daddy"! Here's to an uneventful and smooth recovery!

We are thinking the exact same Linda, she just seems to be so happy to be rid of that bum leg. She's more mobile now than she was before surgery, she's playing with toys and having fun 🙂 Today she got to play with her foster brother for the first time since surgery, he was the one thing that she got fun from the week before her op, she really enjoys playing with him and it was lovely to see. We're very excited for when she is able to run and can chase him and our cat!

Currently Toller is mainly on crate rest (the cat carrier to really restrict her movement). We toilet her 5x a day, she comes out for cuddles 3x a day, and has puzzle feeders and frozen treats in her crate. 'Cuddle time' involves mainly being held on my lap, getting fuss, playing with toys, and now having a little fun with our foster. She's out 30-40 minutes, and goes away when she's sleepy. We also give her the odd treat she enjoys on our bed, standing or lying down. Does this sound acceptable? Should she be doing more/less?

Our vets seem pretty strict on crate rest after amputation, and extremely restricted rest up until the 10-14 day mark, so we are confining her to her small crate rather than the 42 inch 'play pen' crate for now. We just want to make sure we don't miss the ideal time to begin strengthening exercises or anything like that.

Also Toller was left with her shoulder (we weren't asked about this, they just told us after they'd left her shoulder blade), we were wondering if this is normal? Beneficial in any way?

Yes you really want to limit her these two weeks. Mostly just crate rest and out to potty and snuggle time. The fact she was so restricted and somewhat already a tripawd is probably working to her advantage. But you don't want her overworking those muscles and getting sore. It takes two weeks to get over the surgery and about a month to adapt to being a tripawd. She really looks fabulous though! As far as leaving the shoulder I'm not sure what the norm is. It's hard to tell all wrapped like that but to my eye it looks pretty typical of what they mostly look like after surgery. Maybe some of the others on here will have some more insight. She really is a sweetie! Sounds like you've got her at just the right levels of rest, potty and snuggle time.

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